Sharaab Releases His Back Catalogue

Sharaab, a recording and mix engineer who has worked with Karsh Kale and the Midival Punditz, has put some of his back catalogue up on bandcamp as a "name your price" download. It's to celebrate the release of his EP Deva on the 10th February.

Up for download are Sharaab's first solo albums Infusion and Evolution along with two albums made with The Fabric. It's a great opportunity to get your hands on this talented producer's music. I guarantee it is unlike anything you have ever heard before. Poison, Nosering and Indian Rain are my favourites on Evolution. On Infusion, Bidrohi and Earth and Sky are worth a listen.


You can download the four albums here.  Check back for Sari-Clad Speakers review of the Deva EP soon.


 

Dipps Bhamrah - Twerking Jugni

Dipps Bhamrah has released Twerking Jugni. It is the first of 12 songs that the BBC Asian Network presenter is releasing as part of a year long project. 

The track features vocals from Dipps' dad K.S. Bhamrah from Apna Sangeet. It's a reworking of Jugni, which was a huge hit and still gets played at weddings. This modern version is catchy, but because the original track is so well know it sounds like a remix rather than a reworking. The video is simple and I liked the glimpse into Dipps' old school record collection.

Dipps will release another 11 tracks this year in different styles on the last Thursday of each month as part of a project called #EmbraceTheMadness.  Many artists go months or even years without releasing new material, so I'm interested to see how this project goes and if all the singles are released on time!

Take Five: Ideas For The Music Industry in 2014

The Desi music industry is often accused of being unoriginal and copying other music styles. Here are five things that I would like to see in 2014.

Acoustic Music

There are many good vocalists working in the industry at the moment. But all too often their vocals are drowned out by samples and producers overusing their special effects. I'd like to see more artists singing a Capella or accompanied by just a few instruments. Two artists who could pull this off are Bikram Singh and Parichay. Both have gorgeous, powerful voices that suit a lack of accompaniment.

Harmony

Vocal harmony is not part of the Indian musical tradition. It's something that Desi music has yet to borrow and I think it could be done well. I would love singers such as Gunjan, Guru, and Mehi to collaborate and produce complex vocal harmonies, preferably unaccompanied. It is hard to do and requires real musical talent

Interesting Videos

Bhangra is notorious for the lack of creativity in videos and from 2013 there are only a few that stick in my mind. A lack of budget is often blamed for the lack of quality, but good videos do not have to be expensive. I'd like to see captivating story lines, surprises and dance moves that rival Strictly Come Dancing. No flashy cars, clubs, alcohol and bored models please! 

Rooh Covers Sheila Ki Jawani

Rooh, a band based in Dubai, have made a cover version of Sheila Ki Jawani. It is a rock version and has a video to go with it.

The track incorporates original English vocals as well as the original Hindi ones. It starts with a melancholy feel and the way the song is turned around to show the male perspective is clever. The concept works and it one of the best cover tracks I have heard this year.

Shot in front of a crumbling building with flash backs from the night before, the video is simple but effective.  I like this more than Katrina's Kaif's attempt at raunchy dance moves.

Bikram Singh - Billo Rani

Bikram Singh is getting ready to release his next single. Billo Rani releases this Thursday and is produced by Sunil Sehgal.

It's instantly recognisable as a Bikram Singh track. Billo Rani is traditional Punjabi song with an electronic edge. The lyrics are catchy with some great vocals from Bikram. Billo Rani should work well on the dancefloor and I can't wait until party season begins to try it out.

There is a video for Billo Rani. It's produced by Paranormal Media and features model-actress Asal Kara. It is shot in New York City and London, which are two of  Bikram's favourite cities.